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Martin County, North Carolina
Williamston, NC - old Martin County Courthouse
Historic Martin County Courthouse in Williamston.
Map of North Carolina highlighting Martin County
Location in the state of North Carolina
Map of the U.S
North Carolina's location in the U.S.
Founded 1774
Named for Josiah Martin
Seat Williamston
Largest town Williamston
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

462 sq mi (1,197 km²)
461 sq mi (1,194 km²)
0.3 sq mi (1 km²), 0.06%
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

22,031
47.2/sq mi (18/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.martincountyncgov.com

Martin County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,031.[1] Its county seat is Williamston.[2]

History[]

The county was formed in 1774 from the southeastern part of Halifax County and the western part of Tyrrell County. It was named for Josiah Martin, the last royal governor of North Carolina (1771–75).[3] Whereas Dobbs County and Tryon County, named for Martin's predecessors Arthur Dobbs and William Tryon, were abolished after American independence, Martin County was neither abolished nor renamed, a fact which has been attributed to the popularity of Alexander Martin, twice governor of the state (1782–84, 1789–92).

The Martin County Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.[4]

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 462 square miles (1,200 km2), of which 461 square miles (1,190 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.06%) is water.[5]

State and local protected areas/sites[]

  • Fort Branch Confederate Earthen Fort Civil War Site
  • Foxtale Hunting Preserve
  • Gardiners Creek
  • Lower Roanoke River Wetlands Game Land
  • Jamesville Wildlife Preserve
  • Moratoc Park
  • Multiple parks within or close to Robersonville and Williamston

Adjacent counties[]

Major water-bodies[]

  • Conoho Creek
  • Etheridge Creek
  • Gum Swamp
  • Hardison Mill Creek
  • Long Creek
  • Reedy Branch
  • Roanoke River
  • Smithwick Creek
  • Tranters Creek
  • Welch Creek

Major highways[]

  • [[Template:Infobox road/NC/link I-Future|Template:Infobox road/NC/abbrev I-Future]] (Concurrency with US-64 and US-17)
  • US 13 US 13
  • US 17 US 17
  • US 64 US 64
  • Alt plate
    US 64 US 64 Alt.
  • NC 11 NC 11
  • NC 42 NC 42
  • NC 111 NC 111
  • NC 125 NC 125
  • NC 142 NC 142
  • NC 171 NC 171
  • NC 903 NC 903

Other major infrastructure[]

  • Marin County Airport

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 6,010
1800 5,629 −6.3%
1810 5,987 6.4%
1820 6,320 5.6%
1830 8,539 35.1%
1840 7,637 −10.6%
1850 8,307 8.8%
1860 10,195 22.7%
1870 9,647 −5.4%
1880 13,140 36.2%
1890 15,221 15.8%
1900 15,383 1.1%
1910 17,797 15.7%
1920 20,828 17.0%
1930 23,400 12.3%
1940 26,111 11.6%
1950 27,938 7.0%
1960 27,139 −2.9%
1970 24,730 −8.9%
1980 25,948 4.9%
1990 25,078 −3.4%
2000 25,593 2.1%
2010 24,505 −4.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[10]

2020 census[]

Martin County racial composition[11]
Race Number Percentage
White (non-Hispanic) 11,528 52.33%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic) 8,868 40.25%
Native American 69 0.31%
Asian 98 0.44%
Pacific Islander 1 0.0%
Other/Mixed 572 2.6%
Hispanic or Latino 895 4.06%

As of the 2020 United States census, there were 22,031 people, 9,378 households, and 6,195 families residing in the county.

2000 census[]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 25,593 people, 10,020 households, and 7,194 families residing in the county. The population density was 56 people per square mile (21/km2). There were 10,930 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 52.54% White, 45.37% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.90% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. 2.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,020 households, out of which 31.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.30% were married couples living together, 17.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.20% were non-families. 25.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.50% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 86.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,793, and the median income for a family was $35,428. Males had a median income of $29,818 versus $19,167 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,102. About 16.30% of families and 20.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.50% of those under age 18 and 25.70% of those age 65 or over.


Law and government[]

Martin County is a member of the Mid-East Commission regional council of governments.

Politics[]

Martin County is a historically Democratic county; in 2004, it voted Republican for only the fourth time, the first three having been in the Republican landslides of 1872, 1972, and 1984. Barack Obama won the county back for the Democratic Party in both 2008 and 2012, but in 2016, it narrowly backed Donald Trump. In 2020, it supported Trump again, voting for a losing Republican nominee for the first time ever, this time giving him an outright majority of the vote.[13]

United States presidential election results for Martin County, North Carolina[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,532 52.09% 5,911 47.14% 97 0.77%
2016 5,897 49.29% 5,846 48.86% 221 1.85%
2012 5,995 47.38% 6,583 52.03% 74 0.58%
2008 5,957 47.50% 6,539 52.14% 45 0.36%
2004 5,334 51.03% 5,102 48.81% 16 0.15%
2000 4,420 47.19% 4,929 52.63% 17 0.18%
1996 3,590 41.98% 4,500 52.62% 462 5.40%
1992 2,958 36.90% 4,069 50.76% 989 12.34%
1988 3,149 46.61% 3,598 53.26% 9 0.13%
1984 4,266 52.32% 3,870 47.47% 17 0.21%
1980 2,564 34.59% 4,750 64.09% 98 1.32%
1976 1,931 29.81% 4,518 69.75% 28 0.43%
1972 4,188 68.76% 1,840 30.21% 63 1.03%
1968 1,221 14.97% 3,118 38.22% 3,818 46.81%
1964 1,511 23.86% 4,821 76.14% 0 0.00%
1960 737 11.23% 5,826 88.77% 0 0.00%
1956 449 7.27% 5,730 92.73% 0 0.00%
1952 415 7.02% 5,493 92.98% 0 0.00%
1948 163 3.36% 4,636 95.53% 54 1.11%
1944 133 2.93% 4,408 97.07% 0 0.00%
1940 106 2.24% 4,628 97.76% 0 0.00%
1936 111 2.42% 4,477 97.58% 0 0.00%
1932 94 2.42% 3,781 97.37% 8 0.21%
1928 411 12.73% 2,818 87.27% 0 0.00%
1924 216 9.71% 1,999 89.88% 9 0.40%
1920 530 17.15% 2,561 82.85% 0 0.00%
1916 281 16.03% 1,472 83.97% 0 0.00%
1912 229 15.13% 1,251 82.63% 34 2.25%
1908 421 23.93% 1,338 76.07% 0 0.00%
1904 216 13.21% 1,419 86.79% 0 0.00%
1900 1,088 37.43% 1,819 62.57% 0 0.00%
1896 1,374 44.98% 1,681 55.02% 0 0.00%
1892 1,091 38.56% 1,454 51.40% 284 10.04%
1888 1,308 44.03% 1,663 55.97% 0 0.00%
1884 1,250 44.42% 1,564 55.58% 0 0.00%
1880 1,287 47.76% 1,408 52.24% 0 0.00%



Education[]

The primary and secondary public school functions are performed by Martin County Schools, a district covering the entire county. Martin Community College is located in Williamston.

Notable people[]

  • Annie Moore Cherry
  • Wilber Hardee, founder of Hardee's
  • William Drew Robeson I, minister of Witherspoon Street Presbyterian Church

Communities[]

Map of Martin County North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Map of Martin County, North Carolina With Municipal and Township Labels

Towns[]

  • Bear Grass
  • Everetts
  • Hamilton
  • Hassell
  • Jamesville
  • Oak City
  • Robersonville
  • Williamston (county seat and largest town)

Townships[]

  • Bear Grass
  • Cross Roads
  • Goose Nest
  • Griffins
  • Hamilton
  • Jamesville
  • Poplar Point
  • Robersonville
  • Williams
  • Williamston

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Martin County, North Carolina
  • List of future Interstate Highways
  • North Carolina in the American Civil War

Coordinates: 35°50′N 77°06′W / 35.84, -77.10

References[]

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Martin County, North Carolina" (in en). https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/martincountynorthcarolina/PST045221. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 201. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ. 
  4. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html. 
  5. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/docs/gazetteer/counties_list_37.txt. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ Forstall, Richard L., ed (March 27, 1995). "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/nc190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. April 2, 2001. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  10. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/36/36117.html. 
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?g=0500000US37117&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ "County winners, 1836-2016" (in en-US). https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ZmDRzvm83BYurKX7LsrET-C7tcIsE5Em42Wt-gTydXk/edit?usp=embed_facebook. 
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Martin County, North Carolina. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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